
Late run lifts Freeman over Johns in three games
Max Freeman is into the men’s singles Round of 16 after an 11-5, 0-11, 11-9 victory over No. 5 seed Ben Johns.
It looked like Johns was in full control after earning 9-5 lead in Game 3 after an 11-0 pickle in the second, but a timeout helped Freeman come all the way back to pull off one of the many early-round upsets fans have seen so far in Bristol.
“It was a pretty weird match,” Freeman noted afterwards. “I think Ben got off to a little bit of a slow start, and I was able to capitalize on that early and got a little bit of confidence in that first game. Obviously, I got pickled in the second game—I cooled all the way down, and I don’t think [Ben] missed a ball. And when he went up 9-5 in the third, things were looking pretty bleak, so I called a timeout, strung a few points together and got lucky at the end.”
“This is a very momentum-based game, very trendy one way to the other so you’ve just gotta tell yourself that anything can happen out there and just keep playing one point at a time.”
Freeman, the No. 32 seed this week, will next face No. 21 seed Grayson Goldin with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
Related articles

Winners in the wind: Waters snags Triple Crown No. 42 as Johns, Tardio take men's doubles gold
Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters continued their flawless 2026 campaign in women's doubles as Waters secured her 42nd career PPA Tour Triple Crown.
1 day ago
-Will Daughton

Staksrud overcomes slow start, outlasts Haworth in three games for second title of 2026
Federico Staksrud followed up a silver medal in Newport Beach with a gold medal in North Texas.
1 day ago
-Will Daughton

Waters, Johns avenge Mesa loss, beat Bright, Patriquin for mixed doubles gold
Three weeks after being swept in three games in the final of the Carvana Mesa Cup, Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns got their revenge on Sunday in the Lone Star State.
1 day ago
-Will Daughton

New MLP teammates Todd, Truong outduel Humberg, Rane in three games to make women’s doubles final
On the same day that they became Major League Pickleball teammates, Alix Truong and Parris Todd advanced to the women's doubles final with a three-game victory.
2 days ago
-Will Daughton